Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-01-20
TYPHOID FEVER:
ITS
RESTRICTION AND PREVENTION


Is q common disease of frequent occur
renee in our State.
1t Is especially o disease of young
adult life, although no age Is exempt
from it. Itattacks all classes of society,
being found both in the mansion and
in the hovel. 1t is probably the most
preventable of all infectious diseases,
excepting, perhaps, smallpox, since the
introduction of general vaccination.
In view of this fact, and that it is the
cause of 90 much sickness and death in
the State, 1t is hoped the following in
structions for its restrictions and pre-
vention will be carefully considered
and followed by all who may receive
this document:
MODE OF COMMUNICATION.
Typhoid Fever is believed to be due
to specific cause, a disease germ given
off by one sick with the disease, and
which may be transmitted to Others in
various why's. The poison is usually re-
ceived by drinking water contaminated
by discharges from the bowels of q ty-
phoid fever patient.
This generally comes from throwing
these discharges into privy vaults or
faulty sewers which allow their con-
tents to filter through the ground into a
neighboring we'll or spring.
It has been demonstrated that i'm
purities may thus be carried through
porus soils for distances of one hun
dred feet and more.
Severe outbreaks of typhoid fever
have occurred in cities from the dis
charges having been thrown into the
river from which the city derived its
water supply.
In some instances the disease is so
mild that the patient never goes to bed,
and may be even unaware of the nature
of his malady. His discharges, how
ever, are fully as dangerous as in more
serious cases, and unless properly cared
for, may be the cause of many other
cases of the disease.
Milk has frequently conveyed the
disease, either from being diluted
with water containing the typhoid
fever poison, or by being kept in room
in which there is one sick with this
disease; in the latter case the disease
germs are absorbed by the milk. II
may be conveyed by the clothing,
especially by such as have received the
discharges of the patient. Laundresses,
in washing such clothing, have thus
contracted the disease.
In some instances the poison seems
to gain access to the system by breath
ing 1t in; and the gasses from faulty
or untrapped sewer, which has received
the discharges of typhoid fever pa
tient, may convey the disease. 1t is
possible the poison may be found in
other discharges. but it is in the stools
of typhoid fever patient that the
special cause of this disease is usually
found.
1t is not believed that filth of itself
will cause the disease, but it serves as
anidus (nest) in which the specific
germ of the disease lodges, lives and
multiplies. Typhoid fever is communi.
cable, but is not considered contagious.
The foregoing outline Of the nature ol
the disease, and the manner of its COM
Ihunication, will suggest the measures
to be taken for its prevention.
ftfs of the first importance that the
stools of every person suffering with
typhoid fever be thoroughly disinfected
and placed where they can not possibly
gain access to the source of any Idrink.
ing water. In cities having sewers
they may, after disinfection, be thrown
into the water-closet, but they should
not be thrown into unsewered privy
vaults, but be buried in trenches dug
in the ground remote from any watel
supply.
All discharges from the bowels should
be received i'm vessel containing q
quart or more of the following solution
and allowed to remain therein for al
least thirty minutes:
SOLUTION NO.
Dissolve chloride of lime, of the bes
quality, in soft water, in the proportion
of four ounces to the gallon.
Ifthe patient is unable to use a YES
sell, receive the discharges on soft rag
or paper and burn them at once. AL
clothing or bedding soiled by the pa
TENTS discharges, must be removed a
once and placed in boiling water to b,
boiled for half an hour; or they may b,
immersed in the following solution
allowing them to remain for two hours
when they may be wrung out and sen
to the laundry; to be thoroughly boiled
SOLUTION NO. 2.
Dissolve four ounces of sulphate o
zine white vitroD and two ounces 0
common salt, in one gallon of water.
Ut would be better to boil the soilet
clothes, towels, ETC., in this solution.
Nurses and attendants should observ
perfect cleanliness, and their hand
should be frequently bathed in the so
luton No. 2. Their meals should b
prepared and eaten in room separat
from the patients.
Typhoid fever is not supposed to b
contagious, 3. e., not transmitted di
rectly from one person to another
hence the strict isolation of one sic
with the disease is not necessary, bu
needless visits of friends should be dis
cOuraged.
The body of one dead from this d
sease should be wrapped in asheet satu
rated with solution No. l. or No.
made double strength, and be buried a
soon as possible.
After death, or recovery from the d
sease, the room which the patient ha
occupied, with all its contents, shoul
be exposed to the fumes of burning SUI
phur. To fumigate room proceed q
follows:
Arrange the contents of the room s
as to expose the greatest possibl
amount of surface to the action of tn
disinfectant. Clothing, bed covers an
similar articles should be hung up !
the room. Close the room as complete
Iy as possible, stopping all opening
through which the gas might escape